Position-indicating apparatus



Oct. 28, 1930. P. o. LONGYEAR 1,779,313

POSITION INDICATING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwmntoo 0- Lazy fair w i $6 I Oct. '28; 1930. P. o. LONGYEAR 1,779,318

POSITION INDICATING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P/u'Zi a 0. 10/2 9647;

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16,4 elk 2 0mm Patented Got. 28, 1930 7 1,779,818

nui'ran stares. PATENT oFFIc-E PHILIP 0. LONGYEAB, 0F CORONA DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA PO SITION-INDIGATING APPARATUS Application filed July 26, 1929. Serial No. 381,138.

This invention relates to an instrument for Before proceeding to a detailed descripindicating the position of a person or vehicle tion' of the instrument, it will facilitate the: carrying the instrument, on a map. It operdisclosure to state that in practicing the inates on the principle that underlies the operavention I utilize the principle of a surveyors tion of a surveyors plane table. plane table. I The instrument provides means The general object of the invention is to forsupporting a map, which map should inprovide simple means for indicating the geoclude in its area the locality of the traveler. graphical position. of a traveler, on a map, or A plurality of distant points on the earth are to indicate his position with relation to selected as guide stations. The instrument 10 known fixed points on the earth. is providedwith means for indicating'the A furtherobject of the invention is to prodirection of these three points at any time. duce an instrument of this kind on which a In addition to this, the instrument'is promap on a relatively small scale can be carried vided with a plurality of guide arms correas a guide to a. traveler, for example, an aviasponding respectively to the distant points.

tor in traveling a long distance, and to pro- Whenever it is desired to indicate the'posi- 66 vide means whereby a local map can be readtion of the traveler on the map, it is merely ily interchanged for the small scale. map necessary to align .these guide members or when the traveler has arrived near his desti guide arms with the corresponding distant nation, the instrument being so constructed points. 'The map, which. is supported .on

as to indicate at all times the position of the these guide members, will then be held by 70 traveler on either the general small scale map them in a definite position, and the intersecor an the particular local large scale map tion point of the guide members or guide which. is substituted for it. arms will indicate the 'point on the mapwhere Further objects of the invention will apthe traveler is located.

2 pear h i ft Any suitable means may beemployed for The invention consists in the novel 3 parts determining the direction of the plurality of and combination of parts to be described guide stations. It is notnecessary to.em hereinafter. all of which contribute to proploy more thanthree such guide-stations. duce an efficient position indicating appa- If desired, wireless impulses may be em- 50 ratus. ployed to determine the'direction of these '8 A preferredembodiment of the invention three guide stations. 2 This is particularly is described in the following specification. advantageous where the stations are at such while the broad scope of the invention is distance as to beinvisibleto the traveler. pointed out in the appended claims. Under these circumstances wireless send- 55 In the drawings: ing stations will be located at the three guide 8 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan indicatstations, each station preferably sendingout ing a map and illustrating the use of the ina wireless signal. Though it is not essential, strument. if desired a certain wave length, or difierent Figure 2 is a plan of the instrument, repre- Wave lengths recurring in a certain order,

senting the map-supporting platen in dotted may be distinctive of each station according outline. to a predetermined code. In using the in- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing strument for traveling around a certain 10- the apparatus complete and with the parts cality,:it maybe that theguide stations will of the instrument in elevation, and illustratbe visible. Forexample, when aviators are 45 ing diagrammatically theelectrical circuits flying at night at a high elevation cities at which are preferably employed in using the a considerabledistance may be plainly visapparatus. ible due to the reflection of their light on the Figure 4 is a vertical section taken about sky. Under such circumstances it is not nec- A on the line l4l of Figure 8 and upon an enessary to provide wireless impulses emanatlarged scale. ing from the different guide stations.

It is not necessary to have distinctivewave length signals because, by the aid of his compass, the aviator can determine which station is in a certain general direction.

I shall 'now describe the instrument and explain its use, including the means for cooperatingwith wireless signals, to determine the direction of the'difierent guide stations.

The instrument comprises a frame 1 which preferably includes an elongated bar 2 with a short post 3 extending upwardly at each,

end. This frame supports a. plurality of 7 guide members preferably consisting of three bars a, b, and 0, which aremount edfor rot-a tion on a common vertical axis at the middle of; the bar 2 (see Figure 4c). These guide a members support the map 4, which maybe rigid board, such as wall board or similar material. I v

The arms a,b and '0 supportthe platen carrying the map. Of course,-if the map is onrigidmaterial they can support the map directly instead of supporting the'pl'aten carrying themap. The underside of the platenis provided with means for slidably and rotatably attaching it at three points corresponding to the three arms (2,?) and-c. For this purpose I prefer: to provide each guide arm witha sliding sleeve 6, the upper end of which is formed into a pin 7 that is receivedin a corresponding socket 8 secured to the underside of the platen.

Referring to Figure 1, suppose that the travelers position is at the point T on the map. Let us assume that three distant points along the lines-A, 'B and C are selected as guiding stations for a traveler, andlet us assume that the distance of the station on the line A is represented by the distance from T' to A, and also that the distance to the station on the line B is represented by the dis tanceTB.' Likewise the distance tov the station on the line Cis represented by the length of the line T-C. I Let us assume also that the a rnia corresponds to the station on theline Aflandlikewise asto the other arms for example, thearm 1) corresponds to the station on the line B. *The so ckets8 should be attached to the underside of the platen in the same relative position; as the points "A, B and C, as indicated in'Figure 1, whilethe map is held with the tr'avelers position on the map at thepoint T.

If these sockets are atta'chedin' these relative positions, the instrument will function so that'if the traveler moves to another point on the map and the arms a, *b and 0 are aligned with their corresponding guide stations, the intersection of these arms will be located overthe point on the map where the traveler is located.

Any suitable means may be provided for indicating a point in alignment with the pivotal axes of these arms on the upper side of g used in conjunction with wireless waves sent out from the different stations, I prefer to provide three indicating units correspond ing,res'pectively, to the different arms; In order to accomplish this, I provide a wire loop 11 corresponding to the arm a, and a wire loop 11 corresponding to the arm I). The wire loop 11 is securedrigidly on a shaft 12 rotatably mounted in the lower end of the post 3 at'one side of the frame, and this shaft 12 is provided with means for communicating its rotation to its corre- 13; and C, respectively. If theinst-rumentis spending arm a; In order to accomplishthis the shaft 12 is provided with a beveled gear 13 that meshes with a corresponding beveled gear on a shaft 14; that extends along under the bar 2, and is connected through the beveled gears 15 and '16 with a tubular shaft 1'7 that is rotatably mounted at the middle of the bar 2 to rotate on a vertical axis. The upper end of this tubular shaft 17 carries the arm a' (see Figure This construction is duplicated for the other side of the instrument, that is to say, the 'lo'op'll", when it rotates, will communicate its rotation to a shaft 1 9 that in turncommunicates its rotation through beveled gears 15" and'16 of equal diametenthe latter gear being rigidly secured to a tubular shaft 17? that carries the arm 7) at its upper end.

The arm c is attached to a central shaft 17 that extends down through the tubular shafts 17 and 17", and this shaft is extende i I ed below the gear wheels 15 and 16, so

as to carry the loop 11.- Each loop, for eX- ample the loop 11", is provided with, two rings 18 and 19 that are connected to the opposite ends of theconductor forming the loop, and these rings are touched by two brushes 20 that are included in an electric circuit 21. Near the operators position an indicator 22 of ammeter type is provided, which in-- dicates the intensity of current flowing'in the circuit 21. This circuit includes a battery 23 or other source of E. M. F;, which will give a normal uniform current. v

In the same way, he rotates the loon 11 by means of the hand wheel 24L, and when the pointer of the indicator22 indicates a maximum current, he'leaves this loop in this position. The loop 11 is of course mounted in a plane that coincides-with the vertical plane passing through the arm 0. Consequently, all of the arms will then point toward their corresponding guide stations. In moving the arms with the loops, the platen 5 will of course become shifted and by observing the position of the pointer 10 on the map, the traveler knows his own geographical position. It should be noted that the points of the compass have nothing to do with the operation of this device. The map floats, as it were, on the arm a, b and c, and in any position that the traveler has on theearth, when the arms are aligned on the guide stations, the travelers position will be always indicated under the pointer 10, and the map will have the same orientation as it had at starting. Of course, the north point would be at the top of the map. 3

While I prefer to employ the stretched wire 9 with the central pointer 10, it will be evident that any other means can be employed for indicating the location ofthe common axis of the three arms a, D and c, on themap.

As regards the circuits, such as the circuit'Ql, it should be understood that the circuits indicated are merely for the pur pose of illustration, and anyapparatus'or accessories may be used in these circuits, such as are now employed in direction finding circuits of apparatus that cooperates with wireless impulses to indicate the directionfrom which such impulses originate.

Each arm is connected with its corresponding loop, so that the arm is maintained parallel with-its corresponding loop, that is to say, with the plane of the loop.

An indicator 22 is also provided near the operators position connected into a circuit with the loop 11 by similar apparatus as described in connection with the loop 11". A; similar circuit 21 is provided in connection with the loop 11 and including an indicator 22,which is located at the operators position.

The shaft 14 and the shaft 14 are provided wit-h hand wheels 23, enabling the same to be rotated at will. A similar hand wheel 24 is provided on the extension of the central shaft 17.

I will now describe the mode of operation of the apparatus. Having mounted the platencarryingthe map on the riders 6 of the guide members a, Z) and c, the operator should note that the point at which he is located; on the map when he starts should be directly under the pointer 10. This will oc cur if the sockets on the underside of the platen arelocated as explained above. The traveler then proceeds on'his way and when he desires toascertain his position on the map 4, he rotates the loops 11, 11 in succession by means of the hand wheels 23 and observes the pointers of the indicators 22' and 22". When these pointers indicate a maximum current, he leaves the loops in the position which they then have. He will then know that the two arms a and b are aligned with the distant guide stations.

By operating the loop 11 in the sameway, and observing its indicator 22, he can determine the direction ofthe third or Cstation, and leave the arm 0 pointing at it. His own position on-the map will be under the pointer 10.

' It is'ohvious' that in using this instrument when atraveler arrives near his destination, he can, if he pleases, substitute a local map on a larger scale. This local map would, of course, have itssoeketse' attached in a certain relative position corresponding to the new local guide station selected by the traveler or aviator for guiding him when near his destination. i I

In practical use it is preferable to lllW the taut wire 9 extending in a frontand rear direction on the vehicle, that is to say, the wire preferably extendsin the direetionin which the vehicle'is moving; This makes it more convenient tolocate the objective point on the map.

' It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments that this invention may take, and I do not wish to be limitedin the practice of the invention, 1101' in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth. 7

What I claim is:

1. In indicating apparatus'for indicating the geographical position of a traveling vehicle, the combination of amap corresponding to the local geographical position of the vehicle, a platen supporting the map, a plurality of guide members having a common pivotal axis on the vehicle and capable of swinging'in a substantially horizontal plane, means for indicating the direction of distant points on the earth corresponding to the said guide members to enable the said guide members to be pointed respectively at the said distant points, and riders mounted respective ly on the said guide members with means for pivotally connecting the same at fixed points respectively on the said map.

2. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical posit-ion of a traveling vehicle, the combination of a map corresponding to the local geographical position of the vehicle, aplaten supporting the map, a pl urality of guide members having acommon pivotal axis on the vehicle and capable .of swinging in a substantially horizontal plane, means for indicating the direction'ofdistant points on the earth corresponding to the said guide members to enable the saidguide members to be pointed respectively a the said distant points, riders mounted respectively on the side guide members with means for a so pivotally connecting the'same at fixed points respectively on the said map, and "a pointer carried in a relatively fixed position on the ity of guide members having a common piv-.

otal axis onthe vehicle and capable of swinging independently in a substantially horizontal plane, means carried on'the vehicle for indicating the direction of'di'stant points on the earth corresponding to the said guide members to enable the said guide members to bevaligned respectively With the said distant points, and riders mounted to slide on the said guide members, and pivotally connected respectively with the under side of theplaten at fixed points.

a. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical position of a traveling vehicle, the combinationof a" map corresponding tothe local geographical positionof the vehicle, a platen carrying the map, a plural ity of guide members having a common pivotal axis 'on the vehicle and capable of swinging independently in a substantially horizontal plane, a direction indicating unit corresponding to each guide member and carried on the vehicle for indicating the direction of distant points on the earth corre sponding to the said guide members to enable the said guide members tobe aligned respectively with the said distant points, riders mounted to slide on the said guide members, and sockets attached to the under side of the platen pivotally connecting with thesaid riders respectively.

5. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical position of a traveling vehicle,'the combination of a map corresponding to the local geographical position of the Vehicle, a platen carrying the map, a plurality of guide members having a common pivotal axis on the vehicle and capable of swinging independently in a substantial- 1y horizontal plane,a direction indicating unit corresponding to each guide member and including a conductive'loop mounted to rotate on a substantially verticalaxis, and

i a circuit passing through the loop, an indicator at the observers position in the vehicle controlled by the circuit for'indicating the direction of distant points on the earth corresponding to the said guide members to enable the operator of the vehicle to align the guide members respectively with the said distant points, and means for pivotally and slidably connecting the said platen at a plurality of fixed points on the same to the said guide members respectively.

6. In indicating apparatus vfor indicating the geographical position ofa traveling've;

vehicle, a platen carrying the map ,.a .plura1- ity of guide members having a common pivotal axis on the vehicle and capable ot. swinging independently ina substantially horizontal plane, a direction indicating unit, corresponding to each guide member andineluding a conductive loop mounted to rotate ona substantially verticalaxis, anda cir cuit with an indicator at the observers position in. the vehicle for indicating the direc, tion ofdistant points on the earth corre sponding-to the said guide members to enable thejoperator of the vehicle to align the guide. members respectively with the said distant points, means for pivotally and slid ably connecting the said platen at aplurality of fixed points on the samez to thesaid guide members respectively, means for con:

necting the said conductive loops respec tively with thesaid arms to maintain a de f1 nite angular relation between the plane of each loop and the oriented position of its corresponding arm, I

7. In indicating apparatus for indicating" the geographical position of a traveling VB- hicle, the combinationof a map correspond.-v ing to the local geographical positionof the vehicle, a platen carrying the map, a 'plu-g rality of guide arms having a common pivotal axis on the vehicle and capable of swinging independently in a substantially hori-Q zontal plane, a direction indicating unit carried on the'vehicle corresponding to eacharm with means connecting the same with its cor,- responding arm to enable each arm to be aligned with a corresponding: distant point on the earth, and riders mounted to slide on the said bars and pivotally connected respectively at fixed points on the under side of the platen. 1 j a 8. In indicating apparatus, for indicating the geographical position of a travelingve; hicle, the combination of a map corresponding to the local geographical. position of the vehicle, a platen carrying thei map, plurality of guide arms having a common pivotal axis on the vehicle and capableof swinging independently in a substantiallyhori: zontal plane, ardirection indicating unitcarried on the vehicle corresponding to each arm including a conductive loop mounted to rotate on a substantially vertical a xis and having a shaft with means connecting the same to its corresponding guide arm to hold the guide arm in a position substantially parallel with the plane of the loop, and riders mounted to slide on the said'bars and pivotally connected respectivelyat fixed on the under side of the platen.

9. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical position of a traveler, the

' combination of a frame, a pluralityof arms points pivotally mounted on a common axis on the frame, a map-carrying platen, riders mounted to slide freely on the arms and pivotally connected to the platen so that when the arms are in a certain relation the map will be held in a certain relation.

10. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical position of a traveler, the combination of a frame, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on a common axis on the frame, a map-carrying platen, riders mounted to slide freely on the arms and pivotally connected to the platen so that when the arms are in a certain relation the map will be held in a certain relation, saidplaten being located over the common axis of said arms, and means for indicating on the map the location of said common axis.

11. In indicating apparatus for indicating the geographical position of a traveler, the combination of a frame, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on a common axis on the frame, a map-carrying platen, riders mounted to slide freely on the arms and pivotally connected to the platen so that When the arms are in a certain relation the map will be held in a certain relation, said platen being located over the common axis of said arms, means for indicating on the map the location of said common axis, and means associated With the apparatus for indicating the direction of distant points on the earth corresponding to the said arms.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 19th day of July, 1929.

PHILIP O. LONGYEAR. 

